We're Listening

EPA released the Engineering Evaluation/Cost Analysis cleanup plan for public comment in June 2010 and then issued the cleanup plan decision in an Action Memorandum in September 2010. We expect construction to begin in early 2013 and take up to two years to complete.

Bridge construction or closure will primarily limit the truck routes for moving contaminated materials out of this area and clean dirt into the area.

This site was identified for early cleanup based on high PCB concentrations in the river and on the former Duwamish Manufacturing and Malarkey asphalt site (T-117 property). As such, the site now consists of three investigation and cleanup areas: off-shore river sediments, T-117 upland property, and adjacent streets and residential yards. We are sure of the sediment cleanup boundary because we have determined the outer edge based on several sediment sampling rounds. Contaminated sediments will be removed between the shore and this clean sediment boundary. All of the contaminated soil on the T-117 upland property area will essentially be removed or covered with backfill or cap material.

EPA has identified an Adjacent Streets and Residential Yards “Study Area” that is between T-117 and 14th Avenue South, Dallas Avenue and South Donovan Street. This area was defined based on PCB samples since they are the primary concern for recontamination to the river. Residential yard and streets have not been sampled for PCBs on the west side of 14th Avenue because Ecology’s source tracing data from area catch basins demonstrated there was not an accumulation of PCBs to indicate this area is a potential recontamination source to the river. Also, the purpose of this Superfund Removal Action at T-117 is not to determine exact boundaries of all contaminants in the area. The purpose of this removal action is to clean up the highly contaminated areas that could be a source of contamination to the river.

Basin Oil is a separate site and will not be cleaned up as part of the T-117 cleanup. However, Ecology has sampled the site and we have assessed the Basin Oil site to see if it might re-contaminate T-117 after it is cleaned up. Surprisingly, very little contamination was found at Basin Oil, so we are confident it will not cause recontamination of T-117. Cleanup of the Basin Oil property will be done under an Ecology Order.

Yes, we tested for mercury when we sampled the soils and sediments. We found that mercury was not elevated above the level of concern and so mercury was not identified as a contaminant for cleanup here. Mercury has been sampled for and is a contaminant of concern in the larger Lower Duwamish Waterway cleanup project, though it is not one of the four risk drivers.

The estimated cost of the cleanup is about $34 million. The cleanup is being funded by the Port of Seattle and the City of Seattle, with significant contributions from the State’s (Ecology) Toxics Grant Fund.

Both Duwamish Manufacturing and Malarkey Asphalt were involved in the lawsuit to cleanup T-117, which resulted in several years (and hundreds of thousands of dollars) of lawyers, consultants and early cleanup work to finally reach a settlement agreement with the Port and City. In addition to their earlier cleanup work at the site and other fees and expenses, the final settlement resulted in Malarkey and Duwamish (through their insurer) paying $10.5 million toward the cleanup.

Terminal 117 is in unincorporated King County. The streets and yard portion of the T-117 site is located in the City of Seattle. (See map of the area.)

PCBs, dioxin/furans, TPH (petroleum hydrocarbons) and heavy metals.